Circuit closer



Sept. 8, 1931.- c. w. sulRl-zs CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed June 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1931. c. w. SQUIRES CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed June15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gggmew w.

W PM. ATT-EIR E145 Patented S ept. 8,1931

UNITED CHARLES w. -setmss, es esteem, nsssmnnssrrs omcm'r CLOSERAppnctn'an filed June 15,

This invention relates to circuit closing mechanism for use in trolleysystems in connection with electrically-operated rail switches.

In supplying current for operating such a switch, it is customary toutilize the trolley wheel in the overhead trolley to connect a branchcircuit with the power line, that is, at certain predetermined points inthe line 1'0 a connection is made through the trolley wheel so thatcurrent flows in a branch circuit which energizes solenoids foroperating the rail switch directly or -for operating a relay switchwhich, in turn, controls the solenoid. WVhile a single impulse ofcurrent in the branch circuit is suflicient, it may happen that the carstops in position to maintain the contact closed, so that instead of amomentary current, as would occur in the passage of the trolley wheelacross the contact, a continuous current flows in the branch circuit.This involves not only an unnecessary waste of power but is likely toburn out the coils in which it is used. My invention contemplates acircuit closing mechanism arranged to oper-, ate automatically to cutoff the flow of cur rent in the branch circuit immediately after it hasbeen set up and whether or not the trolley wheel leaves its contact withthe power line. This I accomplish by providing in the branch circuit asolenoid-operated switch arranged to be moved to open position by thepassage of a current through the branch circuit.

An important feature of my invention consists in the provision of a pairof contacts associated with the power line of the system andincorporated in the branch circuit to control solenoids for shifting theswitch inopposite directions so as to open the circuit immediately inthe branch through which current is flowing and establish contact in abranch not at the moment connected with the power line but arranged tobe energized by 45 further movement of the trolley wheel into engagementwith the second of the power contacts. By this construction, a singleimpulse of current only is insured through the branch circuit inwhichever direction the D trolley wheel travels, and after each passage1927-. Serial at. 199,093.

ofthe trolley wheel the system is arranged in conditiontobe operatedagain.

My invention is an improvement in the gener'al type of mechanism shownin Letters Patent No. 1,220,701, shown in use for, Opel Ming track w andinLetters Patent No. '1,@t(4,138,toth of said patents being graitedftome, though it may be otherwise use These and other features of theinvention willibe best understood and appreciated the renewingdescription or a preferred bodimen't thereof, selected for purposes atillustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l isa longitudinal section of a so,- aus cont'ac'tor with the circuitsconnected thereto ad'afpt'ed for, use with a track switch me hanism suchas is described in said Platent N 0. 1,244,138. r I, 1 I I Fig. 2 is atop view of the co'n'taotor shown .1-Tis-.. i

Fig. 3 is an under view thereof. Figs. 51: and 5 are sections on lines141 and 5- 5-or Fig. 1. a

T gen-actor 1 is in an essential respects likethosanowinuse. Seefdrexample that shown in Patent No. 1.199331 and other track switcheslsiownin parents granted to me. It ish-qa' rrom the trolley wire 29111 theusual way so tliatwghile "a is electrically connected with raiie 'wireare troney when 3 cameras with itfan'd not with the trouey'wire. The

contaetor ha atpne dgepf its underside a 1 metal strip 4 and attli'eother edge a similar metalstrip composed of sections 5, 6,7, 8 am;

9. or these sections, 6-, 7 and s, are insulated from the c'ontactory astrip of insulating material 50, shown as wood. I "This is prefer ablyriveted to the respective metal strip sectionsolt the contactor, Thusthese sections t5 and '8 are not-energized unless the trolley wheel inpassing ell-gages one of them, conn'ecting 'it electrically with theopposite metal strip 4. These sections 6 211168 have connections nd "80running from them as below described and are separated by a neutralsection 7 so that the trolle wheel 35cm only come in contact with'one'of these seetions at a time. The trolley wl'i'eel 3 in passingunder the contactor will engage these strips with its edges but withonly one strip, 6 or 8 at a time, and either of the circuits 60 or 80which happens to be closed at the time will receive momentaryenergization.

Section 6 is connected by wire 60 with the coil 61, and section 8 bywire 80 with coil 81, these coils operating the core 10 and formingtherewith a solenoid, the core 10 being connected by a guide piece 11and link 12 to the switch 13 and operates it as the core 10 is caused bythe current in the coil 61 or coil 81 to move in or out from the coils.

Each coil is also connected by a wire 62, 82, with a contact plate 63,3, with which the switch member 13 may connect.

The switch 13 is pivoted at 14 and is connected by the wire 15 with anyappropriate track switch mechanism, this wire 15 corre spending with thewire j in my Patent No. 1,220,701. r I

It will be seen that the trolley which 0011- tacts with the section 6energizes the circuit 60, 61, etc, the solenoid operates the switch .13and almost immediately breaks the circuit comprising the wire 15, etc.,so there is only a momentary connection possible in this wire and itsconnections (not shown) as in the wire j in Patent No. 1,220,701. (Seealso Patent No. 1,244,138.)

The section 7 on the contactor is electrically separated from both 6 and8, and is sufficiently long to prevent a trolley wheel from contactingsimultaneously with sections 6 and 8 and so energizing both coils 61 and81 at the same time.

i 16 is a clip of ordinary construction and 17 is a feed wire which maybring current to the contactor if desired.

Anyone skilled in the art will see that my invention may be otherwiseembodied and may be otherwise utilized than as above described. It isshown, however, embodied in the simplest way now known to me and onewhich may be operated with but little attention, a peculiarity of itbeing that the circuit controlling mechanism is caused to be properlyoperated electrically by an initial impulse which cannot beprolongedbecause in causing it its circuit is immediately broken at the switch 13which is thrown to close the other circuit, thus setting the mechanismfor another impulse. By this means a continuous current in the wire 15is impossible and the instrument with which it is connected cannot beburnt out.

The switch 13 and its mechanism may have a suitable housing and may becarried by the contactor or placed in a controller box or elsewhereifdesired.

It must he understood that at no time is the current from the contactorexpected to operate the track coil, nor will it do so.

The electric impulse thru the conductor 15 is used onlyas a means toeffect the closing of the operating circuit of the controlling mechanismproper.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a trolley system, in combination, a contactor carrying a plurality ofcontacts adapted to be engaged by the trolley wheel, a switch mechanismand electrical connectors between said switch mechanism and saidcontactors, whereby when one of said contacts is energized said switchwill be thrown to break the connection between the switch mechanism andsaid contact and to make connection between said mechanism and anotherof said contacts.

CHARLES W. SQUIRES.

